Listening to the Shale Revolution

Often the only 'reform' needed is a plan to remove obstacles
to innovation.

By

Holman W. Jenkins, Jr.

Updated Feb. 5, 2011 12:01 a.m. ET

With turmoil in the Middle East comes the inevitable spike in oil prices, topping $90 this week. Look for energy security to make one of its recurrent runs to the top of the national agenda. This time, though, we should listen to the shale gas revolution that has put an unexpected energy bonanza at our feet in places like New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Any energy forecast a few years ago that failed to anticipate the shale boom and...